In this episode, Fr. Anthony interviews iconographer Lynette Hull of the Prosopon School (prosoponschool.org). She shares her thoughts on what happens when parishes compromise on icon composition and style, how missions should prioritize their collection of icons, and why it is important that priests immerse themselves in the production (and not just the study and veneration) of icons. She also shows considerable restraint as she works around Fr. Anthony's (attempts at) humor. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony and Fr. John (Sts. Peter and Paul in Carnegie, PA) get caught up for the first time since the "Anaxios - Christmas Gifts Shopping Hour." They discuss Fr. John's first Pascha in his new parish, Fr. Anthony's last Pascha before his big move, and how awesome it was to have an Anaxios Laser Spear (TM) at Friday Presanctified's (the challenge is real!). Along the way, they share some thoughts on how to manage and lead parishes through change and how our current ecclesial troubles affect the balance of our evangelical witness. Enjoy the show!

One of the challenges of our present spiritual situation is that our society has settled for something less than truth. This affects the quality of our opinions, policies, and judgments and undermines our ability to live and spread the Gospel. An indicator of the seriousness of this is our growing inability to listen to, learn from, and love people who think differently than we do. In this presentation, I frame the situation as a problem of discernment, compare scientific and Orthodox methods of knowing, and describe how polarization keeps us from using either well. I conclude with a discussion of the critical role diversity plays in discerning truth, and how the Gospel can transform the (Babelic) divisions that deafen us to the truth into a (Pentecostal) harmony that proclaims and celebrates it. Emulating the academic forum the paper was written for (the 2020 Institute for Studies in Eastern Theology), Dn. Timothy Kelleher then offers his thoughts on the presentation and subject. Enjoy the show!

Jesus Christ said; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28​-30) In this retreat, given for the Ukrainian Orthodox League via Zoom on 2/27/2021, Fr. Anthony describes the way the past year has polarized us and how we and our parishes can heal and become the peacemakers the world needs. A video of the presentation is available at Fr. Anthony Perkins YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Justin Shaun Coyle, PhD, (Mount Angel Seminary, outside Portland, OR; Ukrainian Catholic) and Fr. Anthony talk about life in New England, the joy of NC BBQ, and how studying the works of serious atheist philosophers can help develop an instinct for charity and pastoral evangelism. You can see Justin's work at: https://mountangelabbey.academia.edu/JustinShaunCoyle/Ephemera. Enjoy the show!

Fr. Anthony talks with Fr. Gregory about scientific theories about the origin of thoughts and how the Orthodox understanding covers and improves on them both theologically and practically. This should not be surprising as Orthodoxy grounds anthropology within the fullness of the faith and monastic wisdom is the practical fruit of this theology as it has been lived, developed, and preserved for many generations. Enjoy the show!

The four Gospels offer different perspectives and even different stories on our Lord. Elissa uses this situation as the basis for a family retreat during Great and Holy Friday.

“So there you are on the heights, surveying the earth below and the sky above. Your intellect [nous] now begins to feel its freedom and wants to fly.” I enjoy reading spiritual literature from holy people in the Orthodox Christian tradition. I like it because I often catch glimpses of myself, of my own struggles and my own triumphs. In many ways, books have been like a surrogate spiritual father to me. However, there is also a great danger in reading books for spiritual guidance. Often—actually, just about always in my experience—the writers of spiritual books, especially the classical spiritual books of the Orthodox tradition such as The Ascetic Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John of Sinai, and the the writings found in the Philokalia, these were written to be read by monastic men and women who have already attained to a high degree of spiritual life. They was written, we might say, for those who have already attained the foothills and have now set their eyes on the heights.

This morning my wife and I took one of our occasional half-day vacations. It’s a warmish 19 degree day (68 Fahrenheit) with the sun poking through the clouds. We walked a mile or so up a trail in the hills and then afterward stopped by a country tea and scone place for a bite and a chat and just some quite time together, Bonnie working on her knitting project and I reading a book (what else would I be doing?). Bonnie asked me what I was reading, so I read her a little quote from from Archimandrite Aimilianos. What does it mean to be dispassionate? It means turning exclusively to God, with all your strength, energy, power, and love. There is no turning aside to anything else whatsoever….

As an Evangelical, I had been taught that everything that is really important (spiritually speaking) has to do introducing people to Jesus Christ. Presenting Christ was almost everything. I believed that once one was reconciled with God through Christ–which I understood to be a legal transaction–everything that was really important in one’s relationship with God had been taken care of. This assumption, or something very like it, pervades Evangelical writing.

In Homily 42, St. Isaac the Syrian makes an interesting statement about spiritual guidance. He says, “Do not seek advice from a man who does not lead a life similar to your own, even if he be very wise.” St. Isaac goes on, “Confide your thoughts to a man who, though he lack learning, has experience in things, rather than to a learned philosopher who speaks on the basis of speculations, having no actual experience.” For St. Isaac, and many Orthodox spiritual writers, both ancient and modern, it is very important to seek advice from those who have actually lived and experienced the things that you are seeking advice about.

Fr. Stephen De Young introduces St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Romans 1.

Fr. Stephen De Young speaks on Romans 1:8-17.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of Romans 1.

Fr. Stephen De Young works through Romans, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 3.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 4:1-8.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 4:9-12.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Acts 4:13-25.

Fr. Stephen De Young talks about chapter 5 of the book of Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues his discussion through Romans Chapter 5.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up Chapter 5 of Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young dives into Chapter 6 of Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues Chapter 6 of Romans and works his way through Chapter 7.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins a discussion on Romans, Chapter 8

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion on Romans Chapter 8.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the end of Romans Chapter 8.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Romans 9.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 9:30 to 10:4.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Romans 10.

Fr. Stephen De Young dives into a discussion about Romans, Chapter 11.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion about Romans Chapter 11.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the shift in St. Paul's Letter to the Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 12:10-21.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Chapter 13 of St. Paul's Letter to the Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young talks about Chapter 14 of the book of Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Chapter 15 of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the book of Romans, covering the last bit of Chapters 15 and 16.

This week, Christina and Emma watched The Promise. They discuss the film’s depictions of Christianity, the power of unity between people, the reality that Life overcomes death, and cultural responses to suffering. They close with their Top 5 Predictable (But Still Enjoyable) Movie Love Stories.

This week, the girls take on Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet. They discuss the role of poetry in Scripture, how Christians should understand work as an expression of God’s love, and how generous giving is actually more salvific for the giver than the recipient. They close with the Top 5 Spiritual Books To Read Instead of The Prophet.

At the beginning of Great Lent, the guys discuss the moving Russian film, Ostrov (The Island). They explore how repentance is an ongoing act, how compunction opens our hearts to grace, and how false piety fails to measure up to true holiness. They close with their Top 5 Redemption Stories.

Like the Saints, our path to holiness will be through the daily struggle to be faithful in small ways that few will notice or celebrate.

Fr. Philip calls us to actively engage in the journey towards the Kingdom of God through the Dormition Fast.

Being set free from those things which possess us is just the beginning of the process of salvation.

We are all bent over and crippled in profound ways in relation to the Lord, our neighbors, and even ourselves. The good news of Christmas is that the Savior is born to set us free from captivity to decay, corruption, and weakness.

Let us get over our pride and become living epiphanies of the salvation of the One Who was baptized by St. John the Forerunner in the Jordan.

Whenever we give our time, resources, or attention to help anyone who is in need in any way, we embrace an opportunity to serve our Savior and participate more fully in His life.

Growing in humility is the only way for us to find healing for our passions, for our disordered desires ultimately root in the pride of not accepting the truth about who we are before God.

As we pray, fast, give to the needy, and confess and repent of our sins this Advent, let us do so with the joyful hope of the woman who could finally stand up straight after eighteen years. For the Savior is born to deliver us from bondage in all its forms.